Bob Graham Training Update.

Bob Graham Training Update for Last Week.

Mon - Rest Day - 12 mile Bike Ride
Tues - Sunny Hill Hill Reps x 14 8m/3212ft
Wed - Rest Day - 12 mile Bike Ride
Thurs - Sunny Hill Hill Reps x 14 8m/3212ft
Fri - Chevin Fell Race Route x 2 8.45 m/2454ft
Sat - Thorpe Cloud - 14m/5325ft
Sun - Mow Cop Fell Race - 6.25m 1250 ft

Totals for the week 44m / 15,453 ft

And on Monday it all starts again.

Sad News

Yesterday I heard the sad sad news that Stuart Learmouth a great Fell Running Friend and Fellow Dark Peak Fell Runner sadly lost his battle with Cancer on Monday night. Stuart a loving Husband and Father to Kate and Marnie was a true gent, which is something that you don’t often come across nowadays!

I am sure I can say this for all of his running friends, you will be sadly missed Stuart. Rest assured the promise that we made each other at the Burbage Skyline Race (pictured above in 2010) regarding our Bob Graham Round attempts, I will endeavor to keep for both of us "keep on searching".

Training for the hills!

After a few years of promising to spend less time running i have finally but my hand in my pocket,

It took me an age to decide and after some careful consideration, i have a Genesis Croix De Fer!



The sales blurb states the following:

Equally well suited to winter commuting on the roads or hammering down sun baked bridleways or even exploring the world, it’s a versatile and beautiful bicycle that crosses many boundaries.

I have clocked up some 80 miles during the two and a half weeks i have had it, first week was painful, but not ridden a bike for some 5 years.

Seem to be getting fitter, as the routes i have chosen are 10 miles long and take in 3 or 4 climbs,

The key is that when i get home i have no Fell Running pain in my legs at all, also i seem to be able to get up faster than ever,

Cycling + Rest + Small Hilly Reps = better fell race times this year ( fingers crossed)

Grindleford Gallop 2012

Grindleford Gallop 2012.

Seems like ages ago.... But i think this race must have been the point when i realised that i am doing something right this year.

Training for the BGr is going so well, and gaining the core strength before getting the longer days in.



"Cold Day Recce on the Grindleford gallop route - just near Curbar Gap."

So, after a rotter of an end to last year, i entered this Beautiful route, something that i have always found to be a really tough challenge.

Sitting at home the night before i realised what had encouraged me to knock 17 mins of the Wilmot Wander this year, writing the checkpoint times on the back of my hand. So proceeded to find split time for a runner that ran 3hr 45min last year.

Wrote them down and placed them on my hand the following morning,



"Checkpoint times"

I had also ran the route twice, once in snow and the other in really icy conditions, and on both occasions found it tough, but in my mind i had made the click, after thinking the route through.

So. saw loads of familiar faces when i arrived and remained focused, Steve, also a Dark Peak runner, traveled across with me and he later said that i looked really focused.

And off....... i decided that i really should focus on my own race and times and very quickly saw the field disappear, but as one guy said let the tide go out! and it will come back in!

Checkpoint one and i was 2 mins up on the 3hr 45 min times, Checkpoint 2 and i had gained another 3 mins, so let off a little just in case,

When i came to the long slow climb up onto Longstone Moor i saw Steve who has set off like a train, he cramping up, to much to soon, passed Steve, which is something that i have never done.

Before i new it i was off the Monsal trail and climbing back up towards Hassop. With only one climb to go and the run through Chatsworth, i felt that i could do this, arriving at Baslow i could see three or four Dark Peak Runners, and seemed to be taking time out of the runners in front of me, which was surprising.

Climbed up to Eagle Rock and then across the edge to Curbar Gap and on to finish, trying not to even think about looking at the time, just getting on with it,

A finishing time of 3hrs 36min, placing me provisionally 141st, but then to 148th out of 337.
That's 28 mins off my PB.

Can't complain at that!

Welcome Back!

Its been too long, but i have decided to get back into blogging about my fell running!

So here is a recap from last year and this year so far:

I was 40 years old in October last year.
I planned to have a crack at the BGr last year but had toe issues.
Managed to achieve my 40 trig points and peaked my 40th on my 40th Birthday.
Training this year is going really well.
Ran the "Wilmot Wander" again this year and knocked 17 mins of my PB



40th Trig Point on my 40th Birthday 12th October 2011 - Raynards

So, lets see how it goes from here on in!

Mount Famine - Catagory 'A" Fell Race

I have been training quite hard over the last four/five weekends, racing, upping and generally being out on the fells, so i decided to make my way to Hayfield to have crack at the one race i have heard so much about.

Realised i had left the Garmin at home, so nothing to push me on, when i need a push.

Especially the start!



After last min dash from Derby to Hayfield, i arrived at the scout hut, with mu £4 at the ready, seeing some usual faces and friends made the trip worth while.

A little bit of a map review and a 5 min trot to the start, which seemed a little narrow, i soon realised that the race went sideways from the path, form a line facing up the hill and off, up Elle Bank and what a scramble, the chat soon stopped and was replaced with lung busting breath after lung busting breath.

On reaching the top, and undulating trot before a drop into the woods, sharp right and then up onto the ridge and towards Mount Famine, some ups and some downs then a real sharp push up onto South Head.



The first 1.51 miles of the race covers 984ft of climbing...... ouch!



After the drop off South Head, which at this stage i thought i was last, really finding it hard to get the legs going fast enough on the ups, having enough to catch folks on the downs, but the last major climb back onto Mount Famine, taking in bits of Dimpus Clough (picture above) was a real digging in session.

The ridge and drop back to the path for the trot along the road, similar to the finish of the Kinder Downfall, cross the bridge and onto the park.

Felt like i had pushed hard, had a really good session, unsure of time and placing due to no garmin and not having a clue how many runners were in front. But even though it was Solid, enjoyed it, in a strange way!

Results have been published today - Finished 109/116 in 1hr 17min 27 seconds!

That's the MOUNT FAMINE (5m/1850') - Saturday, 14th May 2011 - 11:00am - A/S

It's also pushed me up to 32 in the Dark Peak local league.

Burbage Skyline 5.75m/1200ft

After a really tough couple of days working i decided to make the dash from Derby to the Fox House Inn for this annual event,

After last years 300 plus runners i thought i best get on my way a little earlier, but true to form, it was last min as always,


*Higger Tor - Image from Derbyshire Images

The journey seemed to take ages, just like going on holiday as a kid, are we nearly there yet, on the way then, when you come home it seems to fly by!


*Mother Cap - Images from Derbyshire Images

As i made my way down the road, after parking what seemed like a mile away, i wrote my entry out and queued up, only to find no numbers, after lots of dashing around the numbers arrived and the registration continued,

Loads of regular faces, Stephen Burt, Simon Goldsmith, Daz H, and a huge number of Dark Peakers!


*Getting on with it down the "plummet"

The race started with the little trot up before turning left at the flag and the drop to the stream crossing, with such a large field, it helps me, as i don't go off to quickly and burn up, something that i have a tendency to do, looking ahead i could see the leaders upping the mound, to go around toward to climb up Mother Cap, when i reached this point i had really been taking it easy, a route across the heather, meant that the pace dropped to a walk, due to the numbers.


*Upper Burbage Bride

I had noticed that i seemed to be in different company, not run around these faces before, but then thought nothing of it, the short climb up "Mother Cap", seemed to come and go, and after reaching the top i had some juice left in the tank, so just kept trotting on (from last year i think this climb knocked me for six, as i had started to fast).

The trot across and drop down before the climb to "Higger Tor" i really enjoyed, keeping pace with the runners around me, and also taking a few, reaching the start of the Higger climb, i felt strong and trotted until the fast walk took over, digging in, i reached the top and passed two or three folks, who had nothing left, the trot to the "Plummet" seemed shorter,

I love the Plummet, and flew down this passing a couple more runners, and this added to my adrenalin, the woods and short climb to "Upper Burbage Bridge" was tougher, got my line wrong for the river crossing and took my full weight on my left leg on the jump across, mis judged the jump, ouch, i thought i had dislocated my hip, it made me feel physically sick.

The push up onto the ridge flet better and i just kept my head down, through the technical bits and then for the drop onto the path, not as boggy as last year from memory, remember it being quite tricky! I do like the ridge running, bolder hopping bit, but find it saps the energy out of my legs still!

The longish, drain of the path to the finish and i was catching Michael Arundale, but he pipped me by 1 second!

I finished in 278th time of 1hr and 51 seconds, and from last years time of 1hr 8 mins something i am chuffed with that, even though we had a small route change.